Foliage From A Whole New Perspective

The changing of the seasons is my favorite time of year. Visitors from around the world flock to our region to experience the foliage. Majestic purples, blood reds, stunning yellows, and bright oranges cover the rolling hills and mountains. Mother nature at her very best.


My family and I are always taking advantage of the region's attractions and natural wonders. Recently, I received an offer from the Mount Washington Resort "Bretton Woods Canopy Tour" to take a complimentary ride on their tree top zip lines. I'm an adventurous soul but there is something about sliding on steel lines high above the ground that simply isn't happening. Doesn't mean that I'm not intrigued by the concept...but count me out. I didn't need to go far to find someone in my hotel to take advantage of the offer. Brandi, my hotel's front office manager, jumped at the opportunity to go "zipping".


This past weekend, she and her boyfriend, Nate experienced the canopy tour. Monday morning Brandi was all smiles and couldn't wait to share her pictures. She went on to describe getting her "zipping" gear on (WARNING...according to Nate...the harness is not exactly "comfortable"), being driven to the top of a ski mountain and hooking on to the first zip line. She said the first time or two was nerve racking. After that, they settled in and enjoyed the entire experience. More specifically...they LOVED it!!! The views were described as truly breathtaking. Brandi reported that the guides were extremely professional and fun to be with. The overall experience was given an A+++ (even after being forced to wear those sexy helmets). Obviously, it is not an experience for those that have a fear of heights. In addition, there is just a little bit of hiking between zip lines.


As Brandi said..."There is no better way to see the foliage or have a memorable day. I'll never forget this experience".

The Bretton Woods Canopy Tour costs just over $100 per person and lasts more than three hours.

COMFORT INN & SUITES - ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT
www.vermontvacationland.com

HAMPTON INN - LITTLETON, NEW HAMPSHIRE
www.littletonhotel.com

HAMPTON INN - BURLINGTON, VERMONT
www.burlingtonvt.hamptoninn.com

FAIRBANKS INN - ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT
www.stjay.com

Food(s) for Thought...

Go no further than my waistline to know that I "enjoy" food...all shapes and sizes...I don't discriminate. Having said that, nothing makes a vacation more fun than exploring the region's different culinary offerings. Northern New Hampshire and Vermont offer a treasure trove of edible delights. When family or friends are in town, we visit some or all of the businesses listed below.

Starting with my absolute favorite...Chutter's General Store on Main Street in Littleton, Hampshire. Chutter's is a "DO NOT MISS" experience for young and old alike. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest candy counter. The children will be more excited than a trip to Disney (ok, that may be a stretch). The older crowd will find candy that will take them back to their childhood. The store also offers great quality souvenirs. Plan on taking time to walk historic Main Street. It offers a plethora of shopping opportunities. In addition to Main Street, stop in and experience the Littleton Grist Mill located directly behind Main Street. This working mill still produces an assortment of quality grains.

While in Littleton, bring your camera...be sure to get pictures of the new covered walking bridge and the historic Pollyanna statue. Littleton is the proud home to the Eleanor H. Porter, the author of "Pollyanna". While getting your photo taken with the statue...(spare me the jokes) rub her bronze shoe for "luck and gladness"...remember to "Be Glad".

Maple Grove Farms located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont is the world's largest producer of maple products. They offer guided factory tours, a small maple museum and a great gift shop. This automated production of maple products is most appreciated when you take time to experience the "old fashion" farm production of maple syrup. Plan on visiting the Goodrich Maple Farm where SEVEN generations have produced award winning maple syrup since 1840.

Cabot Farms, located in (you guessed it) Cabot, Vermont offers an excellent factory tour of its manufacturing plant. Start the tour with a brief movie on how the co-operative was formed and the history of the company. Take a guided tour through the working facility and learn the processes used to make award winning cheese. Afterwards, enjoy complimentary samples of all their quality cheeses. Surprisingly, a great tour for all ages (as long as they like cheese).

Cold Hollow Cider Mill and the world famous Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory are located in Waterbury, Vermont (just over an hour from the hotels in St. Johnsbury). The cider mill is in operation all year long and produces cider "the old fashion way". The mill still uses a press that was built in the 1920's. In addition to making cider this company also produces a large assortment of jams, jellies, mustards, sauces, fudge and other tasty treats. DO NOT LEAVE without sampling the apple cider donuts...they are out of this world. At Ben & Jerry's, a brief entertaining movie will take you through this amazing company's history. Afterward, enjoy a tour of the factory and then on to everyone's favorite part...the sampling room. Ben & Jerry's is open seven days a week except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Storyland - a great way to spend the day

There is a ton to love about New Hampshire's Storyland. My family's recent trip to the historic amusement park highlighted most of them. As we pulled into the parking lot, I was both surprised and concerned to find very few parking spaces available. The last thing I wanted to do is spend a hot summer day standing in lines. Speaking of lines, long ones were formed at the front gates. Families from all over were patiently waiting to get in. The lines moved quickly and surprisingly, they were the longest lines of the day. Once through the gates we found the park to be comfortable to walk around and the waits for rides...more than bearable. With 21 different rides to choose from and a hand full of shows we were excited to start experiencing the park.

My five year old needed to be convinced to get on her first ride or two and after that...look out! I would say the park appeals to grandparents, parents, and children (3-10 maybe a little older). The teenage crowd could get bored pretty quick. I love the fact that the park is clean and spacious. The staff is well trained and receptive to questions. I like the fact that the quality of food is "good" and that I didn't need to take out a second mortgage to feed my family. I'm almost certain that they allow families to bring in their own food and picnic. The shops throughout the park added to the experience. Several members of my family enjoyed browsing.

My youngest son and I enjoyed the costume shop...probably more then we should have. The different hats and props kept us entertained and I ended up buying a large obnoxious king's crown. I proudly wore it for the rest of the afternoon.


The rides and experience varied greatly. Many people hustled by some of my more favorite experiences. I loved the many small touches that made for memorable experiences and photo opportunities.

At "Heidi's House" an older man (her grandfather) sits watch. Very few take time to notice him or his trained chipmunk sitting in a can next to him. Both are very entertaining.

The park offers a great variety of rides. In addition, there are plenty of park areas where the parents can keep an eye on the kids while they burn off some extra energy. I give Storyland a "Do Not Miss" rating for families with younger children.

My Hampton Inn in Littleton, New Hampshire offers incredible Storyland vacation packages. Prices include your room, hot breakfast, and three tickets to Storyland. (603) 444-0025 or check them out online at http://www.littletonhotel.com/ DON'T FORGET TO MENTION..."Brett's Blog". Thanks for vacationing!